Compare towns
Ayer vs Bath vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Bath | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
8,815 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Bath and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #31 of 133 in ME | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Morse High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
13.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.